The Bulawayo Roman Catholic archdiocese has said its priests would not wash women’s feet on Holy Thursday as it deviated from cultural norms, Archbishop Alex Thomas has said.
BY Khanyile Mlotshwa
He said the archdiocese will stick to “tradition” and “culture” and consider men only.
This comes against the background of calls by the head of the church, Pope Francis for the church to seriously consider including women among those whose feet were washed by priests during the mass to mark Jesus Christ’s last supper with his disciples.
There has been a furore in the church with some clergy, especially in the US, arguing that, it was improper for a man to touch a woman’s feet. Thomas told Southern Eye that the church in Bulawayo had consulted widely on the matter and there was resistance to the change.
“When Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, it was the 12 chosen ones,” he said.
“That’s the tradition in the church. Ever since Francis became pope, he has relaxed it to include women and everyone. He has requested the church to consider the inclusion of women.
“In our diocese, we discussed this issue, but we are bound by culture.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“We discussed this with the priests and laity and they felt that washing women’s feet may have connotations. We decided to respect that.
“However, there are two parishes in the city of Bulawayo that are open to the idea. In those parishes, we chose elderly women, who are respected in the church. We have given this provision to these parishes, who, in any case, have been doing it for two years now.”
Tomorrow, some Christians will mark the Last Supper and on Friday they will remember the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
This year’s Easter, the most important feast in the Catholic liturgical calendar, comes in the year that Pope Francis has designated as a Jubilee year of mercy.
